Dow Jones Milestones

Jan. 12, 1906 - Index closes at 100.25, the first close above 100. President Theodore Roosevelt, a Republican, is in office.

The New York Stock Exchange trades a total of 260 million shares for the year.

March 12, 1956 - First close over 500 at 500.24. Dwight Eisenhower, a Republican, is in the White House. Trading on the NYSE totals 766 million for the year.

Nov. 14, 1972 - Tops 1,000 to end at 1,003.16. President Richard Nixon, a Republican, is in office. The index reached 1,000 in early 1966 but retreated and closed below that milestone. The NYSE trades nearly 3 billion shares for all of 1972.

 

Jan. 8, 1987 - First close above 2,000 at 2,002.25. Republican President Ronald Reagan is in office.

July 13, 1990 - Hits 3,000 for the first time but falls back to close at 2,980.20.

April 17, 1991 - Ends above 3,000 for the first time at 3,004.46. President George Bush, a Republican, is in the White House, facing a severe budget deficit. A total of 40 billion shares are traded on the NYSE for the year.

Feb. 23, 1995 - Ends above 4,000 for the first time at 4,003.33 amid euphoria that interest rates were peaking.

President Clinton, a Democrat, is in office. The Republicans control both houses of Congress.

Nov. 21, 1995 - Ends above 5,000 for the first time at 5,023.54, the only time the average has passed two millennium markers in the same year.

Oct. 14, 1996 - Ends above 6,000 for the first time at 6,010.00, double where it stood just 5-1/2 years ago. NYSE volume routinely exceeds 2 billion shares per week.

Feb. 13, 1997 - Dow closes above 7,000 for the first time, just four months after punching through the 6,000 level.

July 16, 1997 - Closes above 8,000, clearing the major psychological barrier just five months after topping the 7,000 points.